Multi-functioning molded pulp articlepacking member



C. J. CHAPLIN Jan. 9, 1962 MULTI-FUNCTIONING MOLDED PULP ARTICLE-PACKING MEMBER Filed Feb, 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Charles .1 Gimp/in ATTORNEY Kn R L. 1 1.0005

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C. J. CHAPLIN Jan. 9, 1962 MULTI-FUNCTIONING MOLDED PULP ARTICLE-PACKING MEMBER Filed Feb. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Charles J Chap/in KARL fioccs ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,016,132 MULTI-FUNCTIONING MOLDED PULP ARTICLE- PACKING MEMBER Charles J. Chaplin, South Portland, Maine, assignor to Diamond National Corporation, New York, N.Y., a

corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 11,017

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates generally to molded pulp articles and more particularly to a molded pulp article packing member which is adapted to be used to substantially suspend an article in a protected condition in a packing carton.

Molded pulp .packing members known heretofore have been used in pairs on symmetrically formed articles to protect the same in a rectangular packing carton. However, in these instances, the similar portions of the packing. member were disposed on similar portions of the article being protected. Thus, if the article was not symmetrically formed, i.e., had a different configuration at opposite ends, it was necessary to design two different packing membersfor such differently conformed opposite ends.

A primary object ofthe invention is to provide a dual Patented Jan. 9, 1962 2 1 vention, as will become apparent, is symmetrical about its vertical and horizontal axis. Thus, a description of the central portion of the packing member in relation to one of its sides would appear to be sufiicient for the purposes of describing the invention. I

Referring to FIGURE 5, he molded pulp packing member is indicated generally at and includes a recfunctioning packing member especially suitable for packing sensitive electrical meters and the like, in which a single packing member includes two different protecting portions engageable with differently conformed ends of the article being supported and thus eliminating the necessity for designing more than one packing member to protect the difierent ends of the article.

Another object of the invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a packingmember which age due to shocks and vibrations encountered in transit.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved packing member which is economical in manufacture, reliable in use, and which is readily accommodated on the article being protected and FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a package formed by using the members of FIGURE 1, showing these members disposed in a rectangular packing cartonwhich is broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on line 3--3 of FIGURE 2; I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a novel packing member in its unfolded condition;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of the packing member.

The novel packing member will be readily manufactured by known molded pulp techniques from a slurry URES 5-7, the molded pulp packing member of the in- I tangular or square center section 12 defined by peripheral hinge lines 14 which hingedly connect the central section to side sections 16, 18, 20 and 22. It will be noted that the side edges of the side sections 16-22 are. cut inwardly into the center section 12 as indicated at 24 in order to provide a space therebetween when the packing member is disposed about an article. Extending from the side 26 of the packing member is an annular collar 28 which forms a recess or. cut-out portion 30 including an annular inwardly disposed abutment shoulder 32. The side 26 may be considered to be the general plane of the packing member.

The other side 34 of the packing member includes an annular orienting collar 36 disposed inwardly of the fold lines 14. Rectangularly disposed at each of the corners of the center section 12 are triangular shaped abutment portions 38 extending'out of the surface 34 and having an arcuate side 40 spaced inwardly of the orienting shoulder 36 and an abutment surface 42 which will engage upon a portion of the meter as will subsequently become apparent. Each of the side sections 16-22 has, extending'from the surface34 at the hinge lines 14, when at right angles thereto, an abutment-foot portion 44, the lower surface 46 of'which merging or extending into the hinge line and the upper surface 48 thereof forming a shoulder'which will be coplanar with the upper surfaces 42 of the abutments 38 when the sides are folded at the hinge lines 14 at substantially right angles to the central section12' and the surfaces 46 engageIthe orienting 'shouldero'r ring portion 36.

Extending out of the surface 34, on opposite sides of and outwardly spaced from the abutment-feet 44' are positioning ribs 50 which include an arcuate side portion 52, an angular side portion 54 anda shoulder portion 56, the shoulder portion 56'overlying the abutment surfaces-42 when the sides are folded at or normal to the centralsection 14. The ribs 50 form atthe edges 58 thereof support feet indicated at 60 in FIGURE 1 for engaging the bottom of surface of the carton in which a meter is packed. I

Considering FIGURE 1, an electrical meter M includes a cylindrical case'60' having a-circular mounting plate 62 at one end from which project a plurality of screws'64. Included at theo'ther end of-th'e case 60' is a rectangular flange 66 having dependingfrom each of the corners and extending along the side'of the casing '60, mounting-studs 68, the cover-ofthe meter including a raised glass face 70 overlyingthe indicating dial of the I same.

Considering FIGURES 1 and 2, side sections 16--22 will be folded along the fold lines 14 to the position shown in the lower portions of FIGURES 1 and 2. The mounting plate 62 will be received within the recess 30 of the annular collar 28 and will rest upon the annular shoulder 32; this detail is also clearly shown in FIGURE indicated at 10' in FIGURES 1-4, will be disposed in overlying relationship to the rectangular flange 66 of the meter. The glass face 70 will be disposed within the annular orienting ring- 36, the abutment-feet 44 will orient the side sections at substantially 90 to the central section 12 and the shoulder portions 48 of the abutment feet will be substantially coplanar with the upper surface 42 of the abutment portions 38 which are at each of the corners of the central section 12 of the packing member. When the sides 1622 are folded inwardly onto the rectangular flange 66 of the meter, the arcuate surface portions 52 of the positioning ribs 50 will engage the cylindrical outer surface of the casing 60. At the same time, the shoulder portions 56 of the positioning ribwill engage the undersurface of the rectangular flange 65 of the meter, see FIGURE 4.

As seen in FIGURE 3, the angular'sides 54 of adjacent ribs 52 will extend on opposite sides of the studs 68 of the meter, and these angular sides 54 terminate in angular end portions 72,jwhich will abuttingly engage the inner surface of the carton C.

if an excessive force should beimposed on one of the sides, adjacent the corner of the carton C, the space 74 between adjacent portions of the positioning ribs will permit the packing member to yield and form a circular protecting element around the casing 60 of the meter.

in view of the foregoing, it will be noted that opposite side portions of the meter packing member will accommodate one end of the meter on one side and the other end of the meter on its opposite side.

The meter will be yieldably suspended within the packing carton C and various shocks or vibrations which oc- .cur during transit will be absorbed by the yieldable pack 'ing member and not be transmitted to the meter.

Although it has not been disclosed in detail, it desired, a suitable reinforcing strap '80 as shown in phantom lines on FIGURE 5, may be utilized for providing additional reinforcement to the recess 30, such a strip extending chordally across this recess.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. In a package comprising a rectangular container, an article comprising a cylindrical casing including differently conformed opposite ends, one of said casing ends including arectangular flange surrounding a transverse lens portion, mounting studs projecting from one rectangularly disposed side sections uni-directionally hinged at right angles with respect to adjacent, side, sections of said center section in juxtaposition with the inner surface portions of said rectangular container, said rectangular center section including on one side thereof a circular recess portion extending in the direction toward which said side sections are uni-directionally hinged and circumposed about one end of the cylindrical casing, the other side of said rectangular center section including rectangularly disposed abutment portions engaging beneath the respective corners of said rectangular flange of the cylindrical casing, said circular recess portion including a circular orienting portion disposed inwardly of said rectangularly disposed abutment portions, said side sections of said packing members including abutment foot-portions adjacent said hinge line and positioning said side sections normal to said rectangularcenter section, said abutment foot-portions including a shoulder portion in substantially coplanar relation and providing a fragmentary support surface at one side of said rectangular flange, said packing member side sections including positioning ribs extending in the direction of faceof said cylindrical casing, said positioning ribs including angularly extending portions diverging away from one edge of said second surface portions, said angularly extending portions forming a space therebetween in :which the mounting studs of said rectangular'flange are received.

2. The structure of claim 1, said shoulder and first surface portions together with adjacent side sections forming a segmental rectangular recess in which the corners of said rectangular flange of said casing are received and supported.

3. The structure of claim 1, said circular recess including a peripheral rib extending out of the plane of said center section and circumposed about one end of said casing, said orienting portions comprising a circular rib positioned inwardly of said abutment portions and in engagement with one end of said cylindrical casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,908,940 Weidel May 16, 1933 2,185,637 Lavere Jan. 2, 1940 2,276,213 Langell Mar. 10, "1942 2,319,966 Vt/OOd et a1 May 25, 1943 2,553,418 LOth May 15, 1951 2,740,574 Laver Apr. 3, 1956 2,863,595

Emery Dec. 9, 1-958 

